Cucina Mia Cafe and Deli – The Best Deli Style Sandwich in Quincy, MA

When I used to work in Quincy, MA, a few co-workers and I stumbled upon Cucina Mia while desperately searching for another lunch place to break up the monotony of the usual uninspired offerings near the office. Located near Quincy Center, Cucina Mia isn’t immediately obvious as a good place to grab lunch, but after stopping in, my co-workers and I recognized our good fortune. On my first visit, the owner recommended that I try one of their signature sandwiches called the Arrosta di Manzo and even though it was basically just a roast beef sandwich, it blew my mind. After that, I returned to try many other items from the menu, but what kept me coming back was the Arrosta.

Service and Atmosphere
The interior of Cucina Mia is fairly simple like many small cafes, but with some old world Italian accents, and has plenty of light coming in through the large storefront windows. The seating area surrounds the counter where people order food that is prepared in the “kitchen” behind the counter. The service at the cafe is varied depending on who is working and that person’s mood. For the most part, the owner, the chef, and the tiny staff of constantly changing young people are friendly and helpful.

Food
There are a lot of good items to try at Cucina Mia such as iced coffee, small pastries, and even cold Sicilian pizza, but their sandwiches are really the highlight. More specifically, one of the best kept secrets of the Quincy area is the Arrosta di Manzo sandwich. It is thinly sliced roast beef with lettuce, mild provolone cheese, fantastic caramelized onions, and a creamy herb spread served on a large fresh roll. The roast beef is sliced to order and the onions really are caramelized, which adds to the great flavors that make up this beast of a sandwich. As far as deli-style sandwiches in Quincy go, this sandwich is king and makes it into the top three best sandwiches in the area as far as I’m concerned.

Overall Impression
After trying Cucina Mia’s sandwiches, I was hooked. This is a great place to stop by for lunch when you’re especially hungry, but still want a well-crafted sandwich with a complex yet complementary flavor profile. I highly recommend Cucina Mia for certain items that they make really well, but mostly for the Arrosta di Manzo roast beef sandwich, which is one of the best sandwiches in the area.